Tottenham Hotspur have announced that their fitness coach Gian Peiro Ventrone has died suddenly from fulminant leukaemia aged 61.
Known as Antonio Conte's fitness guru, he joined Spurs in 2021 and was famous for his punishing fitness routines which earned him the nickname 'the Marine' from his time in Italy.
After falling ill, he was taken to the Fatebenefratelli hospital in Naples before suddenly passing away on Thursday.
Due to the sad news, the club has subsequently decided to cancel their press conference with manager Conte as the club mourns the loss of Ventrone.
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The club released a statement this morning confirming the sad news saying: "We are devastated to announce that fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone has passed away.
"The 61-year-old joined the Club in November, 2021, as part of Antonio Conte’s backroom staff, having previously held roles at Juventus, Catania, JS Suning, GZ Evergrande and AC Ajaccio.
"As loveable off the pitch as he was demanding on it, Gian Piero quickly became a hugely popular figure with players and staff.
"He will be greatly missed by everyone at the Club and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this impossibly sad time."
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The 61-year-old regularly performed his trademark training drill during this summer in Seoul during Spurs' pre-season tour in Asia.
Forcing Conte's squad through gruelling sessions in 30-degree heat and 70 per cent humidity in July saw the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son collapse to the ground and even throw up as a result of completing the exhausting session.
Whilst wing-back Matt Doherty revealed that this summer's pre-season was the 'toughest' he'd ever experienced, he also claimed that the squad 'absolutely loved him' despite his testing methods.
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The Italian was also a part of his country's World Cup triumph in 2006, as a member of Marcello Lippi's backroom staff.
He also spent 10 years at Juventus with Lippi, as well as current Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, between 1994-2004 in what was a highly successful period for the club.
The Old Lady also released a statement following his death, writing: "We will always remember his attention to detail, his work philosophy, and perhaps his greatest talent, the understanding that football - and especially the fundamental components of conditioning and athleticism - was gradually entering a new era.
"A new era that, in part, he helped write. Ciao, Gian Piero."
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Our thoughts are with his friends, family and the club at this time.
Topics: Tottenham Hotspur
George Priestman